People of poll-bound Uttarakhand on Monday rejected a protest called by some political parties, including the state’s ruling Congress, against the Centre’s move to recall high-value banknotes, the BJP state unit said.

The Congress, however, rejected the claim, saying people will give their reply through ballot in the 2017 assembly poll.

“It has also exposed the protesters that are siding not only with the corrupt but also terrorists, who had been using high-value currency to carry out their subversive activities,” he told Hindustan Times.

Parties, including Congress, Left, Samajwadi and Trinamool Congress, observed ‘Jan Aakrosh Diwas’ on Monday to protest demonetisation. On November 8, the prime minister announced that `500 and `1,000 banknotes will no longer be legal tender from November 9 in a bid to tackle corruption and undeclared wealth.

Gairola said: “It has now become clear that the people are not with the parties opposing the central government’s strike against black money.”

Reacting to the BJP leader’s remark, chief minister Harish Rawat’s media in-charge Surendra Kumar said: “People will tell them (BJP leaders) their right place through ballot in the assembly election due early next year.”

In a statement earlier in the day, BJP state unit spokesperson Munna Singh Chauhan said non-BJP parties have lost whatever little credibility they had after Monday’s protest against demonetisation.

“Their failed protest against the Centre’s move has also exposed the parties like the Congress that they are hand-in-glove with corrupt thriving on black money,” Chauhan said.

Besides, he said the Congress was forced to withdraw its shutdown call at the last moment despite its high command’s approval owing to massive support for demonetisation move across the country.

Surendra Kumar, meanwhile, rubbished Chauhan’s allegation that the Congress was siding with corrupt and subversive elements.

“We are siding with labourers, farmers and poor who are having a hard time as they are unable to withdraw money from banks,” he said, adding that his party was against corruption and black money.